Quiz Show (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Quiz Show' (directed by Robert Redford & written by former film critic Paul Attanasio) tells the story of a time when 'perception of truth' on television changed forever. Networks & producers allowed us to see only what they wanted us to see. In 1958, quiz shows like 'Twenty-One' were enormous draws for TV-watching families after dinnertime. We Americans tuned-in once a week to cheer on the appealing scholar, Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes) in his quest to stake-down each new competitor. Previous 'champion' Herbie Stempel (John Turturro) was a Jewish working-class intellectual from Queens who just kept on winning. But when ratings started to drop (due, at least partly, to his crabby demeanor), a new charming champion suddenly emerged.
Following Herbie's 'defeat', the classy, good-looking Charles Van Doren, a popular University professor, & son of well-known poet Mark Van Doren (Paul Scofield), became the next national celebrity (and someone for the females to swoon over); sending ratings & sales of Geritol - the sponsor of 'Twenty-One' - through the roof. However, there is something foul going on behind the scenes. Charles Van Doren, as knowledgeable as he is, was asked to cheat for his victories, as well; the result of pre-supplied answers guaranteed to keep him winning and on on-air. And when a bitter Herbie Stempel decides to go public with the allegation that the quiz show is a fraud, & idealistic Congressional investigator Dick Goodwin (Ron Morrow) listens in, a national scandal explodes. Deception was exposed, & America felt cheated. This film follows Dick's investigation (of quiz shows being fixed), as well as showing the deep characterizations of all those involved.
Why would anyone think that television could lie? The revelation of this scandal marked the end of a period of innocence in the new entertainment medium of television (having lasted in purity for nearly 10 years, commercially). Think about it: we know today not to be naive of such things. We are jaded. But we sure weren't as skeptical 40-50 yrs. ago. Back then, things were great as long as the sponsors, networks, & contestants kept the fraud under wraps from the public. Lose the public, lose everything. Never again would the public take television as seriously. Ratings ruled everything. Disillusionment set-in. Perceptions changed. And this sentiment trickled over to other social outrages. i.e., what's the 'real' truth behind Vietnam, Watergate, and other important "reported" events on television? If Robert Redford wanted to say anything, it's that - with this scandal, all that American previously stood for started to change, and perhaps, not for the better.
Robert Redford can sometimes get a little drippy & bloated in his telling of a story (no matter how brilliant it is), but that's not the case here. He has mounted a provocative story (addressing public & personal moral issues in the entertainment industry), dressed it nicely (great evocation of the 1950's media world), got a great script from Paul Attanasio, & got some great performances from his actors. Ralph Fiennes' Charles Van Doren is one interesting man; coincidingly turned-off by AND seduced by greed. We see why he wants to be loved by the public; to escape the long-cast shadow of his father. He loves the adulation for a while - but his morals eventually take over. Paul Scofield is wonderful as Mark Van Doren; a highly disapproving, stern-to-a-fault patriarch -- quietly terrifying, really. And yet, he looks upon his son's eventual moral degradation with sadness, not anger.
John Turturro is great as the unlikeable Herbie Stempel. It's hard to be considered the 'victim' in the story, & still come across as dislikeable (haha). And Rob Morrow is fine as Dick Goodwin, though nothing special. I don't even know why he was cast, really. Supporting turns from Mira Sorvino (as Goodwin's wife), Martin Scorsese & Barry Levinson are solid. Overall, I just think 'Quiz Show' is a smart, morally complex film that both entertains AND should reap rewards at the end of the Oscar season. It made me ponder issues of fame, $$, reputation & truth. The story affected people on both a national AND personal level. But really ... I just love watching an engrossing story told in a well-constructed fashion. And this film surely is that.
Following Herbie's 'defeat', the classy, good-looking Charles Van Doren, a popular University professor, & son of well-known poet Mark Van Doren (Paul Scofield), became the next national celebrity (and someone for the females to swoon over); sending ratings & sales of Geritol - the sponsor of 'Twenty-One' - through the roof. However, there is something foul going on behind the scenes. Charles Van Doren, as knowledgeable as he is, was asked to cheat for his victories, as well; the result of pre-supplied answers guaranteed to keep him winning and on on-air. And when a bitter Herbie Stempel decides to go public with the allegation that the quiz show is a fraud, & idealistic Congressional investigator Dick Goodwin (Ron Morrow) listens in, a national scandal explodes. Deception was exposed, & America felt cheated. This film follows Dick's investigation (of quiz shows being fixed), as well as showing the deep characterizations of all those involved.
Why would anyone think that television could lie? The revelation of this scandal marked the end of a period of innocence in the new entertainment medium of television (having lasted in purity for nearly 10 years, commercially). Think about it: we know today not to be naive of such things. We are jaded. But we sure weren't as skeptical 40-50 yrs. ago. Back then, things were great as long as the sponsors, networks, & contestants kept the fraud under wraps from the public. Lose the public, lose everything. Never again would the public take television as seriously. Ratings ruled everything. Disillusionment set-in. Perceptions changed. And this sentiment trickled over to other social outrages. i.e., what's the 'real' truth behind Vietnam, Watergate, and other important "reported" events on television? If Robert Redford wanted to say anything, it's that - with this scandal, all that American previously stood for started to change, and perhaps, not for the better.
Robert Redford can sometimes get a little drippy & bloated in his telling of a story (no matter how brilliant it is), but that's not the case here. He has mounted a provocative story (addressing public & personal moral issues in the entertainment industry), dressed it nicely (great evocation of the 1950's media world), got a great script from Paul Attanasio, & got some great performances from his actors. Ralph Fiennes' Charles Van Doren is one interesting man; coincidingly turned-off by AND seduced by greed. We see why he wants to be loved by the public; to escape the long-cast shadow of his father. He loves the adulation for a while - but his morals eventually take over. Paul Scofield is wonderful as Mark Van Doren; a highly disapproving, stern-to-a-fault patriarch -- quietly terrifying, really. And yet, he looks upon his son's eventual moral degradation with sadness, not anger.
John Turturro is great as the unlikeable Herbie Stempel. It's hard to be considered the 'victim' in the story, & still come across as dislikeable (haha). And Rob Morrow is fine as Dick Goodwin, though nothing special. I don't even know why he was cast, really. Supporting turns from Mira Sorvino (as Goodwin's wife), Martin Scorsese & Barry Levinson are solid. Overall, I just think 'Quiz Show' is a smart, morally complex film that both entertains AND should reap rewards at the end of the Oscar season. It made me ponder issues of fame, $$, reputation & truth. The story affected people on both a national AND personal level. But really ... I just love watching an engrossing story told in a well-constructed fashion. And this film surely is that.